I am a Japanese. We have not been watching good news on TV for decades like earthquake, economic and diplomatic struggle, pensions in the toilet, vicious crimes... Most of us are still working hard with patience but really want someting good news that raise our face.

Holding the olympics can help a country improve, or establish, its image, and the value of that ,if it comes off, is incalculable. Beijing meant the world had something to focus on other than Tianamen Square. Sydney meant people thought of Australians as more than just beer drinking sheep shearers. Athens was a waste of money because Greece did not need a makeover and did not have the resources to polish their already well established image. London told the world that the UK could perform a slick trick when called upon to do so. It will be interesting to see what comes out of Sochi.

Why anyone should wish to be associated with such a corrupt body as the IOC is beyond me.

thanks for the great olympic exegesis. I know what you are talking about. Could you elaborate on how the Olympics can help improve a country? And,Tte cost of organising the Olympics is hundreds of millions,bilions. How is the money regained, profits?

thanks for the great olympic exegesis. I know what you are talking about. Could you elaborate on how the Olympics can help improve a country? And,Tte cost of organising the Olympics is hundreds of millions,bilions. How is the money regained, profits?

I visited Barcelona a couple of years ago. Someone asked me why. I said I remembered they had the Olympics there and the city was incredibly beautiful. It pays off years, if not decades, later. Time and money permitting I want to see Beijing.

Maybe America needs one in every major city just to force them to improve their infrastructure.

When a country is doing well, the Olympic games are a great way to show off one' success, but when countries are just limping along, the games can sink them. In other words, it's not a smart decision to buy a Ferrari if your an elementary school teacher.

Hosting such mega events is a loss making proposition. Its also more expensive in rich countries for a variety of reasons. It does however make significant contributions to a gamut of infrastructure - sports and civic. Just shifting locations to undeveloped countries - that are safe - will lower the bill plus create infrastructure and a buzz. Between these events (Olympics, World Cup soccer) and headquarters of the United Nations organizations, billions can literally go towards helping countries that don't have while saving billions.

Hosting such mega events is a loss making proposition. Its also more expensive in rich countries for a variety of reasons. It does however make significant contributions to a gamut of infrastructure - sports and civic. Just shifting locations to undeveloped countries - that are safe - will lower the bill plus create infrastructure and a buzz. Between these events (Olympics, World Cup soccer) and headquarters of the United Nations organizations, billions can literally go towards helping countries that don't have while saving billions. It'd also test the commitment of participants to their sport or work - going to new places won't be a bonanza.

The initiative and drive of such individuals like Lula of Brazil and Abe of Japan who manage to get happening of such unique events, materialized as Olympics , stays on record even if they don't retain their positions at the time of actual happenings .
However it's not only the merit and competency of these people but also behind the scene politics with ulterior objectives which wins the chance for the event. Istanbul didn't lose five times so much for lack of effort by concerned people as the manipulation by the vested interest.

Just heard on Japanese TV that Japan hired French speaking people and persuasive speech coaches to help them win the 2020 Olympics. That there just shows me that Japan really wanted this but I still ask why?

I don't believe that three weeks of games will boost the economy in the long run. I read that Montreal took almost 20 years to pay off their debt and business in London shutdown after the Olympics there.

Whatever the case, I just hope Japan knows what they are doing and this win gives them a lot more incentive to really fix up Fukushima.

I have mixed feelings about Japan 2020 Olympic, as I wonder if it will have a negative affect on the ongoing post disaster recovery of the Tohoku region. There is a risk construction companies, in there eagerness to build the venues/infrastructure around Tokyo, will divert energy from the Earthquake/Tsunami reconstruction. The chances of building smarter and more resilient cities in the North-East of Japan may be lost for a Tokyo Olympic building boom.

Madrid's resounding defeat by Istanbul was an unexpected slap in the face for the Spanish government. Public opinion seems to be saying that Spain has been made to look foolish on a world stage, and I suspect that voters will make government ministers pay a high price for a very public rejection.

A few days ago a prestigious German newspaper, 'Die Welt', said literallly that generalized corruption had made of Spain a third-world country, and a few weeks ago The Financial Times had to 'tell' PM Rajoy to go to Parliament and face the opposition, something he refused to do. Spain's image in the world could hardly be worse, and now this new humiliation...

In a few hours, on September 11th, there will be a really HUGE demonstration in Barcelona (which hosted the 1992 Olympic games) claiming for a referendum and the independence of Catalonia from the Kingdom of Spain.

Sometimes, Finis Hispaniae! [ * ], the third Marquess of Salisbury's utterance in 1898, after Spain went to an unnecessary war with the US and lost it in a most humiliating way, seems to be more than just history.

[ * ] A reference to Kosciuszko's 'Finis Poloniae!' a century earlier.

"In a few hours, on September 11th, there will be a really HUGE demonstration in Barcelona (which hosted the 1992 Olympic games) claiming for a referendum and the independence of Catalonia from the Kingdom of Spain. "

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Not only in Barcelona. Across Catalonia.

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"Catalan Separatists to Link for Independence Cause

"BARCELONA—Catalan independence activists want to revitalize their movement with a more eye-catching protest than a mass street rally staged a year ago: a 400-kilometer (249-mile) human chain traversing Catalonia from the Pyrenees Mountains to the Mediterranean Sea."

"BARCELONA, Catalonia (AFP) – Hundreds of thousands of Catalans will unite to create a 400-kilometre (250-mile) human chain on September 11, part of a spectacular campaign for independence fiercely opposed by Madrid.

Some 400,000 people aim to join hands along the entire coastline of the northeastern region of Catalonia to demand an historic redrawing of the map of Spain."

First of all, congratulations to Tokyo, I have no doubt they will organise a fantastic Olympics in 2020, so I am happy for them. Sorry Istambul, maybe next time. It would be nice to have a nice international event in that region.

But the reason I´m really happy for is Madrid didn´t get it. It might be painful to say this, being from Madrid myself, but those Olympics were not going to make Spanish people lifes easier, much more the opposite. Considering our politicians are extremely incompetent and corrupted (just take a look at Ana Botella, Madrid´s mayor), there is little doubt the business model of an eventual Olympics games in Madrid would be based on real estate especulation, there was no purpose in the candidacy beyond this (let´s say, show the country´s excellence, attract investment...)

Making the Olympic games financially worthwile takes extremely skillful managers, something that is sadly scarce at this point. If we add the huge budget these events take and the harsh economic situation (which is unlikely to improve in the coming years), the conclusion is easy. Anyone but Spain. We have other priorities in which to invest our few resources.

Very well said Sir, I love Spain, I love Madrid but Madrid shouldn't be even considering it right now. Austerity measures, 5-6 m people unemployed (many qualified). First, you take care of your people, then you think about the Olympics.

Being Brazilian, you don't even know how I feel when I think that Brazil, a country that can't even provide the basic for its citizens, is spending some much money in soccer stadiums and sports facilities.

"...the business model of an eventual Olympics......Making the Olympic games financially worth while..." Could you explain a bit more in detail, what is this model, and how are the games made financially worth while, what does it mean?

"Mexico’s 1968 Olympics are remembered as much for the massacre of student protesters ten days before the games as for the sporting events themselves."

How had I never heard of this. I was four at this time but all I have ever heard of the Mexico City Olympics is Bob Beamon's world record long jump and the two American athletes stripped of their medals for holding up their fists in a "black power" salute.